EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau baseball team held a makeup afternoon doubleheader on Tuesday as they hosted Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opponents, Finlandia University (Mich.). The Blugolds scored a season high 26 runs in game one and scored at least one run in every inning in game two to sweep the Finlandia Lions in just fourteen total innings, 26-2 and 16-4 on the day.
Game 1 Box Score (7 Innings) | Game 2 Box Score (7 Innings)
The high power Blugold offense started the day strong with eight total runs in the first inning of game one. UW-Eau Claire capitalized with six hits and two Lion errors for the early advantage. Diego Caicedo (Fr. – Pompano Beach, FL/Northeast) started his stellar day at the plate with an RBI single to make it 2-0 in favor of UWEC. After stealing second, Caicedo was batted in by Walter Johnson (Fr. – Minnetonka, MN) during the next at bat to increase the lead to 4-0. Diego finished the day with five hits, three RBIs, five runs scored, and three stolen bases in just six plate appearances.
The second inning was a chance for UWEC to extend their lead as Andrew Murphy (Fr. – Mahtomedi, MN) belted a double into the outfield and advanced to third on a throw home to make it 9-0. The Blugolds capitalized on an error, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly from Nate Witte (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) for a 13-0 after two innings of play.
The power hitting cam alive in the bottom of the fourth as Carson Windeshausen (Fr. – Eau Claire, WI/Memorial) hit a three-run homerun for a 17-1 lead. Marc Moll Jr. (Fr. – Homer Glen, IL/Carl Sandberg) followed suit in the fifth inning with a grand slam over the right field wall to push the UWEC lead to 24-1. Windeshausen and Moll both tallied their first collegiate career homeruns in the slugfest at Bollinger Fields in game one.
Nico Smith (Fr. – Chicago, IL/Taft) gathered his third win of the season in the 26-2 final giving up only four hits and two runs and tallied three strikeouts. David Janssen (So. – Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial) took over in the top of the sixth to shut out the Lions through the final two innings with two hits and three strikeouts.
Game two saw the same offensive firepower from the Blugolds as they scored thirteen runs in the third through fifth innings. Diego Caidcedo was consistent through and through with two hits, two runs, and one RBI in his three at bats. Nate Witte followed suit with one hit, two stolen bases and two runs himself. Otto Treichel (Jr. – Madison, WI/West), Carson Wideshausen, David Janssen, and Nick Zezulka (Jr. – St. Anthony, MN/St. Anthony Village) all homered once in game two as Windeshausen, Janssen, and Chase Yaeger (So. – Black River Falls, WI) led the Blugolds with three RBIs each.
Matt Moore (So. – Stillwater, MN) earned his second victory of the year with five innings pitched, eight strikeouts, and allowing only five hits. Joe Clinton (Fr. – Aurora, CO/Cherokee Trail) and Drew Salyers (Fr. – Centennial, CO/Arapahoe) each pitched one inning of relief for UWEC allowing only three hits between the two in the Blugolds 16-4 victory.
The Blugolds (9-23, WIAC 4-18) will play their second doubleheader against Finlandia on Wednesday, May 4th at Carson Park in Eau Claire. Game one is scheduled to begin at 5PM.
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